Ruben Ireland is an illustrator of strength. There is strength in the jaw-lines of his portraits, in the graphic execution of the finished product and the colours which jump out from the work. In-between the red-raw hands stroking outwards of ‘Paint or Die Trying’ and the half-manhalf-ram creations of ‘Amalgamations’ sits a world of dark fairy-tales. These are portraits which stare out stoically awaiting the judgement of the viewer. Girls tend to birds with eyes covered or stare face-to-face with horned, blacked out animals. There is no room for cowardice or worry; there is an acceptance and silent acknowledgement of unspoken understanding between beast, human and viewer. Enter the world of darkened reality and séance-like peace… Jade French - As You Are Magazine